Big Arms Dump Found in Police Raids

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 210, 3 September 1942, Page 5

Big Arms Dump Found in Police Raids

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, Sept. 1.

An allegation that the Irish Republican Army is preparing for attacks against British and American troops in Northern Ireland is made in a statement issued by the Belfast police. The statement says: “On the evening of August 3u, a special manifesto issueu uy the ’Army Council’ of the I.R.A. was circulating in Beliast. The terms of this document made it clear that this illegal organisation nas been preparing for attacks against members of the armed rorces oi the Crown, against the police, and against the United Utai.es forces m ..'.ortnern Ireiand.’’

.according to tne police statement, the manifesto said: “The LR.A. cannot recognise the light of Dngiancl or any Rower to maintain forces in any part of

xrisii territory without the free consent of the Irish forces. The LR.A. reserves the right, therefore, to use whatever measures present themselves to clear this territory of such forces. It will undoubtedly be part of Britain s tactics to provone conflict between the American troops in Northern Ireland and Irish guerilla forces. If, in the event of a resumption of hostilities between Britain and the Irish Republic, American troops are drawn into the conflict with Irish soidiers, the responsibility must rest with those who presumed to use Northeast Ireland as a military base without the free consent of the Irish people.” The police statement adds: “Distribution of this manifesto was followed by the timely discovery of two large accumulations of arms and explosives outside Belfast. The finding of these lethal weapons undoubtedly frustrated a plan which, if it had been carried through, would have resulted in grave disturbances and loss of life.”

The Belfast police had earlier announced the finding of one arms dump. Later they made a further extensive raid and took possesion of another and Digger arms dump. Large quantities of arms, ammunition, and explosives in uarrels were discovered. Investigations showed that this material was intended for distribution throughout Northern Ireland and that quantities had already been sent out. Thirteen persons were de tained as a result of yesterday’s raids. Police raiding a farm on a mountainside near Belfast discovered a big I.R.A. arms dump, including rifles, revolvers, tommy-guns, ammunition, detonators and fuses, tear-gas and explosives. A man with a tommy-gun challenged the police as they approached the farm. They shot him dead.

Meanwhile, an agitation is being whipped up in Eire, Ulster and Irish quarters in London for the reprieve of Thomas Williams, an I.R.A. youth who, with five other terrorists, was charged with the murder of a policeman in Belfast on Easter Monday. Williams's associates were reprieved and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment, but the death sentence was ordered to stand in the case of Williams.

Dublin workers threaten a general strike if Williams Is hanged. Nationalist Members of Parliament in Ulster have cabled the King, Mr Churchill, the Home Secretary, Mr Herbert Morrison, the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Hinsley, and the Archbishop of Canterbury urging that Williams should be granted a reprieve. The death sentence still stands on Williams because he stated that firing on the police was his suggestion. The Governor of Northern Ireland has rejected the final appeal for the reprieve of Thomas Williams.

A later message states that Williams has been executed. The police took elaborate precautions to prevent demonstrations. They cordonned a large area surrounding the prison and patrolled the streets in cars. Thousands of workers living outside the cordon were forced to make a detour.